EU Population Trends: Bulgaria Sees Largest Decrease
As of January 1, 2023, the European Union (EU) has a population of 448.8 million people. Germany is the most populous EU country, with 84.4 million residents (19% of the EU total),
In a concerning trend for Japan's demographic landscape, the year 2023 saw a significant decline in the number of newborns, marking a record low in the country's history. According to government data reported by Kyodo News, Japan's population shrank by its largest ever margin, with births plummeting by 5.1 percent compared to the previous year, totaling just 758,631 infants.
The continuous decrease in the birth rate has been a worrying trend for Japan, with the figure remaining below the 800,000 mark since 2022. The latest data underscores a critical demographic challenge as Japan grapples with an aging population and declining birth rates.
The decline in births has been attributed to various factors, including late marriages and a growing trend of people choosing to remain single. The Japanese government's National Institute of Population and Social Security Research forecasts a further decline in births, estimating that births could fall below 760,000 by 2035. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration has labeled the period leading up to 2030 as "the last chance" to reverse this concerning trend.
Japan's demographic shifts are starkly evident in historical comparisons. The number of births peaked in 1973, reaching around 2.09 million babies, but has steadily declined over the decades, dropping below 1 million in 2016.
Alongside the decline in births, Japan also witnessed a record-high number of deaths in 2023, totaling 1,590,503. Additionally, the number of marriages in the country fell to its lowest level since the end of World War II, with only 489,281 unions reported, according to government data.
As Japan faces the challenges posed by an aging population and declining birth rates, policymakers are under increasing pressure to implement effective measures to address these demographic shifts and ensure the country's long-term sustainability.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
New WHO/Europe report finds alarming disparities in diet, exercise, and weight among adolescents from different socioeconomic backgrounds
Ukraine has reached out to Poland for assistance in intercepting Russian missiles and drones near their shared border
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has announced her support for Republican candidate Donald Trump in the upcoming November presidential election
President Biden has emphasized that the creation of a Palestinian state should occur through negotiations rather than unilateral recognition
Britain is set to hold a national election on July 4, which polls suggest will conclude 14 years of Conservative-led governance, a period marked by significant political upheaval
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has once again cautioned Skopje about the potential risk of international isolation due to its failure to fully implement the Prespa Agreement
Sofia Airport's Terminal 3 Construction Set to Begin in Early 2026
COVID-19 Impact: Bulgaria's Grim Milestone as Highest Death Rate in EU